LONDON, May 30 (Reuters) - Kingfisher, Europe'slargest DIY retailer, posted a near-30 percent drop in firstquarter profit as weak demand and poor weather continued to hittrade in its key markets.
The group, which runs B&Q and Screwfix in the UK andCastorama and Brico Depot in France and elsewhere, on Thursdaysaid retail profit was 114 million pounds ($172 million) in the13 weeks to May 4, down 29.2 percent on a year ago and wellbelow a company compiled consensus forecast of 137 millionpounds.
It said revenue fell 2.1 percent to 2.6 billion pounds, withsales at stores open over a year down 4.2 percent, deterioratingfrom a 3.4 percent fall in the final quarter of last year.
Like-for-like sales fell 5.6 percent in France and were down4.7 percent in Britain and Ireland.
Kingfisher (KGF)
